2011 Lake Fork Valley Land & Water Workshop

The Lake Fork Valley Conservancy hosted the “Lake Fork Valley Land & Water Workshop” in Lake City on July 21 and 22, 2011 at the Mary Stigall Theater.

Representatives from a range of agencies and organizations presented on various topics of local environmental concern. The two day workshop focused on the health of our local waterways, wildlife, and forest health, with an emphasis on current trends and impending changes.

Closing the workshop was a presentation by Dr. T. Allan Comp of the Office of Surface Mining about incorporating both the arts and sciences in the process of abandoned mine land reclamation.  Dr. Comp started the OSM/VISTA program in Appalachian Coal Country and Western Hardrock mining towns, a program that has placed Americorps VISTA volunteers in 21 locations in Colorado and New Mexico, including Lake City.

The Lake Fork Valley Conservancy also recognized longtime volunteer and organization president Lyn Lampert with an Excellence and Leadership Award for a decade of unwavering commitment to the health of our watershed.

Fish bike rack at the Paonia River Park. See more in "Acid Mine Drainage & ART: Engaging the Sciences and the Arts in Community Revitalization, in presentation list on the right.

2011 Lake Fork Land & Water Workshop Presentations
Click to open and/or download. Each presentation is a PDF file.

Lake Fork of the Gunnison Watershed: Status & Stewardship  PDF 2.8 MB
Camille Richard, Project Director, Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
This presentation explains the idea of the watershed, and different issues associated with various habitat zones, from high alpine to sage brush.

Why Should We Monitor Water Quality?  PDF 2.3 MB
Barb Horn of Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife
Why water sampling is important.

Lake Fork Watershed Water Quality Data & Summary  PDF 1.6 MB
Ashley Bembenek, environmental consultant
A summary of all water data collected in the Lake Fork watershed to date, and outlined future priorities.

Use of Tracer Injections to Locate & Quantify Pollution Loading  PDF 1 MB
Dennis Murphy, BLM hydrologist, retired
A review of 2000-2001 tracer studies taken on Palmetto Gulch and upper Henson Creek.

Aquatic Biocriteria Assessment of the Lake Fork & Upper Gunnison River Basin  PDF 1.2 MB
Kevin Alexander & Tim Lapello, Western State College
The importance of monitoring bug species diversity when examining river health.

Species and Habitat Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Upper Gunnison Basin  PDF 840 k
Renee Rondeau, Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Anticipated species and habitat impacts from climate change in the Upper Gunnison basin.

Spruce Beetle and Its Far-reaching Implications  PDF 6.4 MB
Art Haines, US Forest Service
Overview of impending spruce bark beetle activity in our area.

Status of Fisheries in the Lake Fork of the Gunnison  PDF 1.7 MB
Dan Brauch, Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife
Status of the local fisheries.

Status of Aquatic Nuisance Species in Colorado & Prevention for the Gunnison Valley  PDF 2 MB
Matt Malick, National Park Service, Curecanti Recreation Area
Aquatic Nuisance Species prevention in our area.

Lake Fork River Enhancement Project  PDF 10 MB
Camille Richard, Project Director, Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
Potential River Enhancement Project in Lake City.

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) & ART: Engaging the Sciences & the Arts in Community
Revitalization  PDF 6.25 MB
Dr. T. Allan Comp, Office of Surface Mining
Incorporating both the arts and sciences in the process of abandoned mine land reclamation.